Wild eggplant, botanically known as Solanum torvum, is classified as an evergreen shrub and member of the large genus Solanum L. (Solanaceae) AKA Nightshade family, along with the tomato and the potato. Solanum is one of the ten most species-rich genera of flowering plants, containing approximately 1400 species. Wild eggplant has many common names including Turkey berry, Gully-bean, Pea eggplant and Devil's fig. Though it is botanically a food plant, it is also considered a noxious weed.

Wild eggplant is independently distinguishable from domesticated eggplant because of the nature in which it grows and the size of its berries. Each fruit is spherical, yellow when ripe and the size of enlarged peas. Wild eggplant grows in clusters on branched vines with heavily lobed leafy foliage. Its foliage a signal to its wild nature: thorny and prickly, defending against natural predators. The fruit is considered the only edible part of the plant. Like common eggplant it has a seedy flesh, yet it is more jelly-like. Its bitterness heavily pronounced, often considered barely palatable, as it isn't cultivated.

Nutritional Value

Wild eggplant contains a high concentration of active ingredients such as alkaloids, phenolics. flavanoids, sterol, sterol, saponins and glycosides. These chemical compounds contribute directly to Wild eggplant's healing properties and its versatile medicinal uses.

Serving Ideas

At the most primitive and basic level, Wild eggplants are great for adding to complex, rich and spicy sauces as when cooked they become soft and soak up the sauce like natural sponges. Regardless of size, Wild eggplant can be as versatile as their cultivated counterparts. Applications range from grilling, shallow and deep frying, baking, pureeing, stewing, braising and pickling. Wild eggplant’s overall culinary companions are other members of the nightshade family, including tomatoes, potatoes and peppers, both sweet and hot. The fruit also pairs well with chickpeas, legumes, grains, garlic, onions, curries, chiles, cardamon, cumin and herbs such as basil, epazote and cilantro.

Geography/History

All eggplants can trace their wild heritage to Africa, though cultivated plants are a distinctly different species from their wild progenitors. Wild eggplants occur on all continents except for Antarctica and be found in a wide variety of habitats from deserts to mountain slopes, particularly throughout Mexico to Peru and Venezuela. Wild eggplant is used as rootstock for grafting domesticated eggplant species. It is also used as rootstock for tomato species to improve disease resistance in areas where bacterial wilt is prevalent. Though it is overall recommended to not cultivate Wild eggplant independently, it has been and is currently being researched for the utilization of cross breading with domestic eggplant species.

Seasons/Availability

Wild eggplant is available during the summer.